11 September 2019 · Planning Committee
The Old Court House, Parliament Street, Ramsey, Isle Of Man, IM8 1ar
The application concerns the former Court House, a 220-year-old rendered single-storey civic building by architect Georg Stuart, located in Ramsey's town centre within a Conservation Area and designated as Registered Building No. 79.
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The officer identified two key issues: the principle of the proposed community uses and impact on the Registered Building's character and Conservation Area.
General Policy 2
Requires development in town centre zoning to respect site/surroundings, avoid adverse impacts on character, amenity, highways, etc. Officer found proposal complies as uses suit mixed-use zoning, internal works non-detrimental given prior losses, and external changes minimal.
Environment Policy 32
Prohibits alterations detrimentally affecting Registered Building's special character. Assessed against building's architectural/historic interest (designed by Georg Stuart, intact externally); internal changes acceptable as historic fabric already compromised, cells retained, and works reversible/restorative.
Environment Policy 35
Permits only development preserving/enhancing Conservation Area character. Rear rooflights not prominent, in keeping with building scale, preserving area appearance.
Time limit
The works hereby granted registered building consent shall be begun before the expiration of four years from the date of this consent. Reason: To comply with paragraph 2(2)(a) of schedule 3 of the Town and Country Planning Act 1999 and to avoid the accumulation of unimplemented registered building consents.
Notify hidden features
During the process of building works hereby approved, the applicant or it agent must notify the Department should hidden features are revealed which might be judged to be of interest and which might require noting and recording or re-used. Reason: In the interest of the character and quality of the Registered Building.
no highway implications
no objection
Ramsey Town Commissioners and DOI Highways Division have no objection to the proposals, while Isle of Man Natural History and Antiquarian Society objects due to irreversible changes to the internal layout of the historic courthouse.
Key concern: irreversible changes to the unique internal Georgian layout of the oldest former courthouse
Ramsey Town Commissioners
No ObjectionRamsey Town Commissioners considered the above application at their meeting on Wednesday 21st August, 2019 and have no objection to the proposal.
Department of Infrastructure (DOI) Highways Division
No ObjectionNo Highways Interest; NHI on 02.08.19
Isle of Man Natural History and Antiquarian Society
Objectionthis is the oldest former courthouse in the Island; the internal layout still largely reflects its use; Registration as exists covers internal as well as external aspects of the building; OBJECT to this application on the grounds that there is lack of proven need sufficient to justify the very significant changes
Isle of Man Natural History and Antiquarian Society
ObjectionIf the current proposal goes ahead, it will not be reversible; fundamentally wrong and contrary to policy to permit such irreversible changes based on such a lack of detailed need and justification; general presumption against alteration or extension of Registered Buildings, except where a convincing case can be made
